Closure for collapsible dispensing tubes in the form of a pair of transversely swinging caps



July 22, 1952 N. PROBSTEIN CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE DISPENSING TUBES INTHE FORM OF A PAIR OF TRANSVERSEILY SWINGING CAPS Filed Aug. 27, 1949INVENTOR Now-01v Peaas TE/N TTORN Patented July 22, 1952 I TUBES IN THEFORM OF A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY SWINGING CABS Norton Probstein; Brooklyn,Application August 27, 1949, Serial No. 112,806

This invention relates to closures for collapsible tubes or containersfor dispensing pastes, creams, shaving soap, paints and the like, wherea little is used at a time and it is necessary to keep the containerclosed when not in use to prevent hardening of the paste around themouth of the tube or unwanted escape of the contents. Screw caps forsuch purpose are in wide use, but such caps get lost and the threads getso clogged with the paste after a little usage that it becomesexasperatingly difiicult to put the cap on tight.

By myinvention, I provide a'closure which can not become separated fromthe tube and lost, which can be operated by a flip of the thumb, andwhich, when closed, seals the paste in the tube so it cannot escape ifthe tubeis accidentally pressed when the closure is shut.

My closure is preferably inthe form of a pair of transversely swingingor rotatable caps',wone above and the other below the neck of the tube,but closely fitting an elongated opening in the top of the tube. Bothcaps are secured to a common vertical pin extending through the top ofthe container, the top cap operating both as a thumb piece for turningboth caps and as a top closure fitting over the top of the aperturethrough which the paste is extruded. The bottom closure prevents pastefrom being accidentally squeezed out between the top of th tube and thetop cap, by a sealing valve action. My improved closure may be made upas a separate cylinder or ferrule, insertable in the top of thecontainer and having two holes therethrough, one for the extrusion ofthe paste and the other forming a bearing for the rod connecting thehinged top and bottom caps. Or the top or neck of the container itselfmay be provided with the necessary apertures.

Referring to the drawings showing several forms my invention may assume:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible container, with myimproved closure thereon;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the top of the container, showingthe closure in the open position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the same;

Figs. 4 and 5 are two perspective views of the insert I use in one formof my invention, which mounts my closure-Fig. 4 showing the same closedand Fig. 5, open;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a modified form of my invention in whichthe top of the container itself forms the mounting for the closure;

Fig. '7 is a vertical section of the same, showing the cap open;

4 Claims. (Cl. 22292) Fig. 8 is'apers'pective view similar to.Fig.-1,showing a'safety seal broken open,that-maybe used on new tubes; Thisseal is shown unbroken in Fig. 1. r l

' Inthe'drawingspa typical collapsible container is 'sho'wn at I; whichis provided witha top or neck portion" 2 havinga hole -3 therethrough,through which the paste is squeezed when in use. Accordingto myinvention, Imake the neck 2 of substantial lengthinside so as to shapethe extrudedpaste into a. uniform. column and make both top and bottom.4and 5=smooth andfiat to cooperate with swinge-awayfcaps or closures: 6and I, one on the outside and the other inside the tube. Both caps arepreferably secured to a'hinge pin 8 extended through a second hole inthen'eck, and'the upper oapis preferably thickcried and knurled tofacilitate its being used as a thumb piece.

5- Normally both caps are closed as shown Kl Figs.

l, 6, and 8, but when the user desires to use the paste, he turns thetop cap with the thumb as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and '7 and squeezes thetube. When through, the user turns the top cap back in place, thusefiectively preventing escape of the paste, even if the tube besqueezed, since the bottom cap or closure is pressed tight against itsseat by pressure of the paste.

According to my preferred method of making my improved tube invention, Iconstruct the neck portion in two main parts, namely an outer neckformed as a part of the tube itself and hence of soft metal and acylindrical insert or ferrule It of harder metal (see Figs. 4 and 5)pressed into the hole in the neck as shown in Fig. 2. The insert has ahole 3 of moderate size therethrough to act as a guide for the extrudedpaste and a smaller hole for the hinge pin 8 to which are secured thetwo caps 6 and I. A smooth, snug fit is provided between the top andbottom of the insert and the caps. Or the neck may simply be made in onepiece as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

To insure the buyer that each tube purchased has never been used, I mayplace around the outside of the neck and the top cap, a plastic sealring ll (Fig. 1), which must be torn or cut before the cap can be turnedto one side to uncover the hole 3.

From the foregoing, the advantages of my invention over the screw capdispensing tubes will be apparent. To open and use the tube, one handonly is needed, since the thumb can turn the cap to open it as thefingers of the same hand squeeze the tube, thus leaving the other handfree to hold a toothbrush. The top also always 1. A collapsible tube fordispensing paste and I like substances by squeezing the tube having atop with a neck portion having an elongated hole therethrough, a hollowferrule having a press fit therein, the paste being extruded through thehole in said ferrule, inner and outer covers for said hole, the formerbeing within the tube and the latter without, said covers being securedto a common pivot pin extending through a second hole insaid 'ferruleand inthe closed position fitting over thetop and bottom of the ferrule,whereby the hole is closed both inside and'out when the tube is closed.

2. A collapsible tube for dispensing tooth paste and like substances bysqueezingthe tube, having a neck portion extending both beyondand'within the tube proper, said neck. having an elongated axial holeextending therethrough through which the paste is extruded in -a ribbonor rope upon squeezing, said neck having smooth raised surfaces at topand bottom, and a pairof closure caps-pivoted on said neck above andbelow said neckso as to swing across and tightly close both ends ofthehole-by'resting firmly against said top and bottom surfaces, saidcaps being secured toacommon hinge pin to one side of said hole so thatmoving the outer cap 'also'moves'the inner cap.

3. A collapsible tube for dispenslngpaste and 4 the like as claimed inclaim 2, having a detachable seal engaging both the neck oi the tube andupper cap to prevent opening until desired for use.

4. A collapsible tube for dispensing tooth paste and like substances bysqueezing the tube, having a neck portion extending both beyond andwithin the tube proper, said neck having an elongated axial holeextending therethrough through which the paste is extruded in a ribbonor rope upon squeezing, said neck having smooth raised surfaces at topand bottom, and a pair of closure caps pivoted on said neck above andbelow said neck so as to swing across both ends of the hole and restfirmly against said top and bottom surfaces to seal-the hole at bothends, said caps being secured to a common hinge pin to one side of saidhole so that moving the outer cap also moves the inner cap, and a sealengaging both the neck of the tube and upper cap to prevent openinguntil desired for use.

NORTON PROBSTEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 923,895 'Ryburg et al June 8,1909 1,024,212 Lieb Apr. 23, 1912 1,051,920 Scheller ;.F'eb. 4, 19131,180,913 Foss Apr. 25, 1916 2,030,380 Love Feb. 11, 1936 2,056,956Carpenter Oct. 13, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 405,953Great Britain Feb. 13, 1934

